The Mariners announced the deal via their official website on Friday. The Australian club released a statement, which quoted head coach Tony Walmsley, who said:

We need to celebrate when players at the Central Coast Mariners are sold to bigger clubs. It's our charter. It's our intent. When I brought Anthony Caceres to the Mariners his potential was obvious.

This move demonstrates how far Anthony has progressed and symbolises how giving youth a chance works for both the Central Coast Mariners and young aspirational footballers.

Caceres made 67 appearances for the Australian A-League side after joining in July 2012, per Transfermarkt.

There's a chance Caceres could now be sent on loan to Manchester City's sister club Melbourne City, which is owned by the City Football Group. However, manager Manuel Pellegrini told Sky Sports' Ben Ransom the club will assess their new recruit before making a call on his future:

The 23-year-old follows former Brisbane Roar midfielder Luke Brattan as the second A-League alumnus to join the Citizens in recent months.

Brattan signed a four-year deal with the Premier League giants in October before moving on loan to Bolton Wanderers. The midfielder returned to City just two weeks later due to what Goal's Michael Huguenin reported as "unpaid superannuation payments," failing to make a senior appearance for the Trotters.

Melbourne City coach John van't Schip declined to comment on any potential loan move for Caceres, per Sky Sports, but the A-League tactician was full of praise for the Citizens' first signing of the January transfer window:

"We can't comment on [a potential loan move] but of course everybody knows he's a good player, he's one of the better players in the A-League. So we'll just have to see."